Women in Trades Training

Okanagan College Women in Trades Training (WITT) is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce Development Agreement to help increase the number of female apprentices in the Province of BC.

Okanagan College WITT offers two different sponsorship opportunities:

Gateway to the Building Trades for Women program and/or
Sponsorship for an Okanagan College skilled Trades Foundation programs

Gateway to the Building Trades for Women

Gateway to the Building Trades for Women is an exploratory program for those who are unsure of which skilled trade is right for them. Participation in the Gateway program is not a requirement in an application for an Okanagan College Trades Foundation program sponsorship. Gateway program applications start with a completed Participant Eligibility worksheet and Participant Intake worksheet. Both forms can be emailed directly to witt@okanagan.bc.ca or delivered in person to the Women in Trades Training office located in the Trades and Apprenticeship office, Kelowna campus.

Gateway participants begin in the classroom learning safety and best practices for the shop and job site, they then begin working on hands-on projects individually and as a team.

Trades covered may include:

Carpentry
Joinery
Plumbing
Collision
Electrical
Automotive
Sheet Metal
RV Tech
Welding

Gateway Students Will:

Gain practical and theoretical experience in a wide variety of trades
Receive knowledge required to make an informed decision about which trade to enter
Learn how to secure employment and training
Increase essential skills
Obtain industry knowledge from mentors, Department Chairs and guest speakers
Occupational First Aid Level 1 certification

Upon completion of the program participants may seek direct entry into employment and/or
Apprenticeship opportunities or continue to build skills and apply to Okanagan College to enter one of many skilled trades Foundation training program and apply for further Women in Trades Training sponsorship.

Program Schedule:

Length: 12 weeks
Monday-Thursday 8:00am-3:00pm and Friday 8:00am-11:45am

Gateway Program Start Dates:

Kelowna: September 17 - December 7, 2018 Applications being accepted now.

Vernon: September 24 - December 14, 2018 Applications being accepted now.

Kelowna: January 7 - March 29, 2019

Penticton: April 15 - June 28, 2019

Admission Requirements:

All eligible participants must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

Legally entitled to work in Canada
Living in BC
Not enrolled in high school or in post-secondary training
Not actively participating in another provincially or federally funded labour market program
Employed and working equal to, or less than 20 hours per week
in which case, an individual is considered Unemployed

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Okanagan College Trades Foundation Programs

Women in Trades Training offers sponsorships for eligible and selected women in their pursuit of becoming a tradesperson by supporting Foundation Level training through Okanagan College. WITT sponsorship applications for trades Foundation programs can only be accepted once the student has received a formal seat offer from the Okanagan College Registrar’s Office and secured their seat with a deposit.

To apply to an Okanagan College trades Foundation program click here

Women in Trades Training Foundation sponsorships may include:

Full tuition, textbooks, mandatory program tools (if applicable) and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Women in Trades Training Office
Phone: 250-762-5445 Ext. 4825
Toll Free: 1-877-755-2266 Ext. 4825
Email: witt@okanagan.bc.ca

Connect with us!

Application Forms

Please complete and submit by email to witt@okanagan.bc.ca
Questions?
Call us at 1 877 755 2266 EXT. 4825

Participant Eligibility Worksheet

Participant Intake Worksheet

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